The United States is facing mounting air travel disruptions as thousands of flights were delayed nationwide on Sunday due to severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers.

The crisis comes amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its fifth week, which has left key aviation personnel working without pay.

According to the Associated Press (AP), more than 4,200 flights were delayed and over 550 were canceled across the country on Sunday. 

At Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the hardest-hit hubs, incoming flights faced delays averaging over three hours, while similar disruptions were reported at New York’s LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, Denver International, and several airports in California and Texas.

FAA under pressure amid unpaid workforce

The FAA has been operating under immense strain since the government shutdown began on October 1, when Congress failed to approve new funding. While air traffic controllers are classified as “essential workers,” they have been working without pay for more than a month, exacerbating a crisis in a system already short nearly 3,000 controllers before the shutdown.

In some facilities, up to 80% of controllers were reportedly absent due to fatigue and financial stress. The FAA has warned that the situation could deteriorate further if the shutdown continues.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “We work overtime to make sure the system is safe. And we will slow traffic down, you’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to make sure the system is safe.”

Trump will not be extorted

In an interview with 60 Minutes, US President Donald Trump said that he will keep the government shutdown ongoing until Democrats capitulate. 

“I’m not going to do it by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way,” Trump asserted. 

Trump has tied reopening the government to securing major reforms or cuts to "ObamaCare" subsidies. The White House’s latest funding proposal reportedly included provisions to freeze Affordable Care Act expansion funds and redirect those savings to other domestic priorities, a move Democrats rejected outright.

When asked whether Democrats will capitulate, he replied, “I think they have to. And if they don’t vote, that’s their problem.”

Read more: US Senate rejects Democratic funding bill amid budget deadlock

Ripple effects across the US travel network

Shortages in air traffic control staff have caused a cascade of flight delays across the country, as bottlenecks in major hubs affect connected routes nationwide. The New York metropolitan area, encompassing Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia, has been particularly disrupted, with authorities warning of possible full ground stops if staffing levels fall further.

Airlines have begun rerouting and consolidating flights to minimize cancellations, while airports have urged passengers to check flight statuses before traveling. The Air Line Pilots Association and aviation unions have called the situation “untenable,” stressing that fatigue among controllers poses risks to both passengers and crews.

Political deadlock deepens aviation crisis

The air travel turmoil highlights the growing economic and social toll of the government shutdown, which has already disrupted federal services, national parks, and public safety operations.

Industry groups have warned that if the impasse continues, the FAA’s ability to maintain safe and efficient airspace operations could be seriously compromised.

Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said that the shutdown “introduces a whole new risk in the air traffic control system.” 

Air traffic controllers form the backbone of the US aviation system, overseeing the safe and efficient movement of thousands of aircraft across the nation’s skies each day. They are responsible for directing every takeoff and landing, maintaining safe distances between planes, and coordinating real-time communication between pilots and airports. 

Since each controller manages a critical segment of the air network, even minor staffing shortages can ripple through the system, triggering nationwide delays and cancellations, a vulnerability now exposed by the ongoing government shutdown.

Read more: US troops face unpaid wages as government shutdown drags on